Texas to North Carolina facing flood threat due to frequent downpours
Frequent downpours across the Gulf Coast and Southeast will renew flooding concerns. Some areas could receive up to 8 inches of rain.
Flooding and severe thunderstorms, two common springtime weather risks, are expected in the storm-weary area of the southern United States this week. AccuWeather meteorologists say that some locations could receive as much as half a foot of rain.
"A stalled front, as well as some pieces of atmospheric energy moving along the front, will be the trigger for the persistent downpours," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Ample moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is expected to stream northward toward the front, helping to bring multiple rounds of rainfall into the weekend and raise the risk of flooding in as many as 10 states from Texas to North Carolina.
Locations that are particularly at risk of flooding are those that have been recently inundated with heavy rain. Since mid-March, Atlanta has reported 3.74 inches of rain, 121% of its historical average during that time frame. In the same time period, Jackson, Mississippi, reported 4.83 inches of rain, 115% of the historical average.
Much of Arkansas has also been hit hard by storms in recent weeks as well, which has led to some stream and river flooding, according to Roys.
Prior to this next round of rain, Roys noted that locations along both the Black River and White River in eastern Arkansas were already experiencing minor to moderate flooding. Much of Arkansas is likely to escape the heaviest rainfall this time.
A wide swath of 2-4 inches of rain is expected from southern Texas to southern Tennessee and western South Carolina through Saturday.
A more localized amount of 4-8 inches of rain is possible in southeastern Texas and Louisiana as the areas get pummeled by training thunderstorms into Friday evening. With more than half a foot of rain possible, Texans who live in cities such as Houston and College Station should be cautious of water that ponds on roadways and low-lying spots. Smaller creeks and streams may also overflow their banks.
Even with smaller rainfall amounts expected farther east, the impacts could be just as great given the recent rounds of destructive storms across the southeastern U.S.
"Cleanup efforts from the recent rounds of severe weather, in places like Memphis, Tennessee, and the northern suburbs of Atlanta like Marietta, Kennesaw and Alpharetta, could all be slowed with the wet weather," Roys explained.
AccuWeather forecasters say that some rumbles of thunder could also accompany the rain as it sweeps through the region.
Thunderstorms in these areas will be capable of producing not only more robust downpours but also damaging wind gusts, hail and even a few tornadoes. Residents should be prepared with a reliable method to receive alerts regarding the latest severe weather watches and warnings in their area.
The rain and thunderstorms could also impact those in attendance at one of the biggest golf events of the year: the 87th Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. The first round on Thursday went off as planned at Augusta National Golf Club but Mother Nature may toss a wrench into upcoming rounds on Friday and beyond.
The persistent rain, as well as any nearby lightning, could cause tournament officials to issue a delay on Friday and Saturday.
Regardless of the amount of rain that falls around Augusta, parts of the Carolinas and the northern portions of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, temperatures will be very cool for early April, falling into the 50s by Saturday, which is 15-20 degrees below the historical average.
A drier day is expected in Augusta Sunday to close out the weekend. However, low clouds and drizzle may linger. A generally drier pattern will settle over much of the southeastern U.S. early next week, but there will be some exceptions.
Watching western Atlantic for sub-tropical activity next week
AccuWeather meteorologists are keeping close tabs on a storm that will slowly brew off the coast of Florida during the middle to the latter part of next week.
There is a chance this system could acquire some tropical characteristics as it drifts westward. Whether it becomes a subtropical system or not, it may trigger drenching showers and thunderstorms across the Florida Peninsula.
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